Tuition & Refunds

Section 7

Tuition Payments

Full tuition payment or participation in a university payment plan is necessary to complete registration. Tuition payments are generally due three weeks prior to the start of classes. Students who fail to submit their financial aid documents, or who fail to make payment prior to the tuition due date, will incur irreversible late payment penalty fees. You can read more about the Bursar’s office policies by visiting the Bursar Website.

Duke Law scholarships and all loan disbursements are divided in half, with half being credited to each semester of tuition and fees. If the semester credit for scholarship and loans exceeds tuition and fees, students will receive a refund from the Bursar. Please note that the fall semester bill may include higher charges than the spring. (For instance, the full charge for the Duke hospital insurance plan is billed in the fall.) This may result in a loan refund that is smaller in the fall than in the spring semester. You can find additional information regarding student refund checks at the Bursar’s website listed above.

Students are responsible for paying any student Bursar account balance that has not been covered by financial aid funds. Payments must be submitted to the Bursar’s Office by its established deadline to avoid late payment penalty fees or possible course registration blocks.

Withdrawal and Return of Title IV Aid

If a student who has received Title IV aid withdraws after classes have begun, the Office of Financial Aid is required to complete a Title IV refund calculation. This calculation is completed using the federally defined formula and is described here.

Tuition Insurance

Duke has arranged with A.W.G. Dewar Inc. to offer the Tuition Refund Plan to our students to minimize the financial portion of losses incurred when a student suffers a serious illness or accident and has to leave Duke before the semester is completed. This elective insurance program provides full coverage for tuition.

This insurance program extends and enhances the University's published refund policy. Students are assured of a 100% refund throughout the term even after the University's own refund policy has expired. This can be especially beneficial when a student is forced to withdraw and then return for a later term. In effect, students will not have to pay to repeat lost education. The following chart illustrates how the Tuition Refund Plan complements Duke's own refund schedule for tuition.

If the Withdrawal Occurs

The University Refunds

The Dewar T.R.P. Refunds*

Student Receives

Before classes begin

100%

0%

100%

During weeks 1 or 2

80%

20%

100%

During weeks 3, 4 or 5

60%

40%

100%

During week 6

20%

80%

100%

After week 6

0%

100%

100%

*The Tuition Refund Plan pays 60% of the costs insured for withdrawals due to a psychological condition that is classified in accordance with the American Psychiatric Association's DSM IV.

We are providing the Dewar Tuition Refund Plan as an option for students. Those who wish to enroll must submit their application form before the first day of class. Applications cannot be accepted after the 1st day of classes.

Direct Deposit and Bank Accounts

Students have the option of having their refund directly deposited into their personal checking accounts. Direct deposit of refunds often results in a quicker receipt of funds since there is no need to create a physical check and place it in the mail. To arrange for direct deposit of your loan refund, download, complete, and submit the Student Direct Deposit Authorization Form.

Most nationally recognized banks have offices or branches in Durham. Students without a banking establishment in Durham are at a disadvantage. If your bank does not have a Durham branch, we suggest you establish an account at a Durham bank.